Horses In Divorces: When Marriages Break Down

THE high-profile divorce of show jumpers Athina Onassis and Álvaro Affonso de Miranda Neto has brought the subject of how horses are viewed in marriage breakdowns into the spotlight.

- Lucy Elder

Cornetto K, formerly ridden by Mr de Miranda at the Rio Olympics, was a focal point in the negotiations. His competition career was put on hold following the 2016 Games before Italy’s Alberto Zorzi took over the reins in early 2017. The horse was eventually sold to Britain’s Alexandra Thornton in September for a rumoured £10million.

HORSES FOR COURSES

WHILE this is one end of the spectrum in terms of wealth and horse value, equines can be viewed in a number of different ways when it comes to divorce. Top family lawyer and keen rider David Lister, of Mishcon de Reya LLP, explained.

“When you divide assets up in a divorce the courts look at a variety of factors,” he told H&H.

“For example, if you are hugely wealthy and accustomed to running a team of horses, it might be fairly reasonable for you to continue to do that, and the cost will be part and parcel of the day-to-day regime people are used to. If there is lots of money and it is an interest you’ve had for a long time, you could fairly reasonably expect to continue that.

“The longer the time the partners have been used to this, the greater the chances of equestrian interests continuing, providing they can be afforded.”